News

IWF President received by the President of Uzbekistan in Tashkent

The IWF President Mohammed Jalood was in the beginning of this week in Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan, where was held the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). During his visit, Mr Jalood had the privilege of being received by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In the meeting, topics related with the development of weightlifting in Uzbekistan were discussed. Himself a fan of our sport, Mr Mirziyoyev highlighted that the authorities of his country are strongly supporting the weightlifting activities. IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev As a result of that effort, several Uzbek lifters have collected medals at world and continental level, making the nation one of the weightlifting powerhouses in the region. Moreover, Uzbekistan is ready to host in 2027 one of the five IWF Qualifiers for the 2028 LA Olympic Games. “It was an honour to be received by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as we had a very fruitful discussion about the development of weightlifting in this country. His Excellency Mr Mirziyoyev congratulated the IWF for its efforts in not only developing weightlifting worldwide, but also for the support to Uzbekistan. In return, he ensured the co-operation at the highest level from the Uzbek authorities to stage world-class events in his country,” considered Mr Jalood after the meeting. “I have no doubt that weightlifting will continue growing and improving in Uzbekistan. The level of involvement from lifters, coaches, officials, but also decision-makers in the country, is outstanding. I wish Uzbek athletes to be successful in our top-events, but also during the 2028 LA Olympic Games,” concluded the IWF

Preliminary Entries for IWF World Junior Championships are due on February 2

IWF would like to kindly remind its National Member Federations that the deadline for the Preliminary Entries of the first IWF event of the year, the IWF World Junior Championships in Ismailia (EGY), is set for this Monday, February 2, 2026. The Championships are scheduled to take place from May 2-8, and in order to successfully proceed with the Preliminary Entries, Member Federations may now register up to 16 athletes per gender, even though the final number of competitors can only be a maximum of 8 athletes (+2 Reserves) per gender, who must be selected by the Final Entry deadline (due on April 2, 2026). Entries can be registered through the IWF online entry system at

IWF appoints Eleiko as Sole Supplier for LA 2028 Olympic Games

The IWF is pleased to announce that Eleiko has been appointed as the Sole Supplier of Weightlifting equipment for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, taking place in Los Angeles, USA, in 2028. As part of this agreement, Eleiko will provide all competition, warm-up and training equipment used throughout the Olympic weightlifting programme at LA28, ensuring athletes compete using equipment that meets the highest standards of performance, safety, and precision. Mohammed Jalood, IWF President, stated: “Our International Federation and the entire weightlifting community is very happy with this appointment, as Eleiko has been for many decades a trusted and reliable partner. The quality of its equipment, the innovative technology, and the commitment of the entire team at Eleiko, are a solid guarantee that we will have a great Olympic competition in Los Angeles. The Games are the pinnacle of our activities and we feel extremely confident that doing this together with Eleiko, the sport of Weightlifting will once more show its attractiveness and beauty to the many thousands of spectators at the Peacock Theater, the prestigious site of our competition in LA, and to the millions of fans following the Olympic events in the five continents”. Erik Blomberg, CEO of Eleiko Group, said: “Eleiko is very excited to be appointed Sole Supplier of weightlifting equipment for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. The entire Eleiko team is fully dedicated to delivering an unforgettable Olympic experience for athletes, spectators, and organisers. This appointment builds on Eleiko’s long-standing partnership with the IWF and follows the recent renewal of Eleiko’s Tier 1 agreement as Official Barbell Supplier through the 2025–2028 Olympic cycle. Together, the IWF and Eleiko continue a collaboration spanning decades, united by a shared commitment to the growth, integrity, and future of weightlifting worldwide.” Precision-crafted strength equipment since 1957, Eleiko is headquartered in the Swedish city of Halmstad, where the company remains based today. Certified by the IWF in 1969, Eleiko has since been present at top-level competitions, including several editions of the Olympic Games. In 2011, Eleiko celebrated the 1,000th world record achieved with one of its bars. Today, Eleiko equipment for weightlifting, powerlifting, and strength and conditioning is used in competition venues, training facilities, and gyms in more than 180

IWF launches dedicated Athletes Commission webpage

In a significant step to enhance the visibility and impact of its Athletes Commission (AC), the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has launched a dedicated webpage for this key body within its main website, following an initiative led by the IWF Athletes Commission itself to strengthen communication and engagement with athletes worldwide. The new AC portal (ac.iwf.sport) is accessible directly from the IWF website via a newly added main menu item at the top of the homepage titled “AC Portal.” This microsite outlines the structure, mission, and objectives of the IWF Athletes Commission and serves as a central hub for sharing information on activities, events, and initiatives relevant to the global weightlifting community. Developed at the request of the Athletes Commission, the platform is designed to provide athletes with direct access to resources, updates, and key policy information. It also offers important insights into the IWF’s anti-doping framework, as well as tools dedicated to athletes’ health and wellbeing. “This is an important milestone for our sport and for our athletes,” said Forrester Osei, Chair of the IWF Athletes Commission. “The Athletes Commission identified the need for a direct and transparent channel of communication between lifters and the leadership of the IWF, and this portal is the result of that initiative.” “This platform gives us a concrete tool to fulfil our mission,” Mr Osei added. “It will provide our community with valuable resources and information that will help athletes perform better - not only on the competition platform, but also in their personal lives.” Looking ahead, the Athletes Commission is eager to see how the platform develops, particularly in the lead-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. “We thank everyone who supported and contributed to turning this Athletes Commission initiative into reality. Their commitment will help make the IWF and the sport of weightlifting stronger on a global scale,” Mr Osei concluded. As a dynamic and evolving space designed to engage lifters worldwide, the Athletes Commission warmly welcomes suggestions and feedback to help enrich and update the portal’s

New rules for lifters from RUS and BLR at IWF junior and youth events

The IWF Executive Board decided to allow, without previous vetting and with the capacity of fully displaying their respective national symbols, the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in its junior and youth events. This rule will become effective at the upcoming editions of the IWF World Junior Championships, from May 2-8 in Ismailia (EGY), and at the IWF World Youth Championships, from July 5-11 in Cali (COL). According to the IWF rules, the Youth age group category includes athletes aged 13-17, while Junior lifters are aged from 15 to 20 years old. This follows the most recent decisions by the IOC on this matter, namely during its EB meeting on December 9-10, 2025 and the Olympic Summit on December

Happy Birthday Sam Coffa!

On his passport, the official name is Salvatore Coffa, but the entire weightlifting world knows him as Sam Coffa. Today, he celebrates his 90th birthday and the entire IWF community sends him its warmest wishes and regards. Happy Birthday Sam! And what a life it has been so far! Despite a successful career as an athlete, coach, manager, official and administrator, the first years of his life were however modest, within a Sicilian family experiencing the difficulties and challenges caused by World War II. Born in Ferla (Sicily, Italy) January 15, 1936, Coffa emigrated with the family to Australia in 1952, in search of better horizons and opportunities. He will quickly integrate the community in Hawthorn (suburbs of Melbourne), by practicing and developing weightlifting in the local club. As an athlete, he progresses quickly, and after acquiring Australian citizenship in 1959, he takes part in the 1962 Commonwealth Games and 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, representing his new country. In the Japanese capital, his most vivid and emotional memory remains the opening ceremony, where he could, in his own words, “proudly march behind the Australian flag”. After his retirement as an athlete, he remains a pillar in the development of weightlifting in his town, in the state of Victoria, in Australia (he is presently at the helm of the national body), in the Commonwealth community, continental federation, and at the IWF level. Sam Coffa is the world reference in terms of the weightlifting rules, currently chairing the IWF Technical Committee – he was also a member of the IWF Executive Board for many years, where his highest position was of First Vice-President. Also involved with politics, he was Mayor of Hawthorn on two occasions, was awarded the membership of the Order of Australia, and was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2009. With the occasion of IWF’s 120-year celebration in 2025, we have published an exclusive interview with Sam Coffa, divided in three parts. Follow the links below to learn about the life of a man who devoted more than 70 years of his existence to the development of weightlifting worldwide: Interview Sam Coffa (Part 1): “We chose Australia because it was very far!” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 2): “I am good at convincing people, I can be quite persuasive” – International Weightlifting Federation Interview Sam Coffa (Part 3): “From where do I take my energy? I just don’t stop!” – International Weightlifting